People are just starting to arrive for the local fiesta here in Sedella – to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the coronation of Virgen de la Esperanza – the patron saint of Sedella.
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Hiking in Sedella
April 9, 2011 By
I have been doing a lot of walking in a bid to get fit once more – an average day only been 30 minutes (do other things as well – dancing, swimming when I can) but every so often I will hike to one of the nearby villages. Once a week I hike the 8km to the nearby village of Canillas de Aceituno – occasionally I will slip into insanity and double the distance by electing to walk back! The walk is beautiful and peaceful – assuming boy racer isnt attempting to send me over the nearby gorge that is!
Our first snow in Sedella
January 23, 2011 By
We had heard, even here in beautifully Southern Spain, it snows in the mountains. We had experienced the snow far inland in Huescar, Granada. This is our first snow here in Sedella.
The mountain above us is already snow capped but, unfortunately, it was veiled in cloud and no longer visible by the time I grabbed my camera! Maybe later
And a little later…
Old Town, Vélez-Málaga
January 21, 2011 By
Anyone first arriving in Velez-Malaga, especially by bus, could be forgiven for believing this is simply your average working town with not a great deal of beauty. To dismiss it so readily without venturing into the old town would be to do it an injustice.
Today I set it into my sights to walk to the ruined castle which sits high above the town – to do so you pass through the old and far more beautiful part of Velez-Malaga.
If you do visit this town be sure to take the time to walk into the old town and, if you can manage the steep walking, up to the old castle. Here you will find a veritable oasis compared to the newer part of town – exquisitly cobbled streets lined with the traditional village houses typical of this region of Spain – some of which, I might add, totally inaccesible by car as the streets are either too steep and are stepped, or just narrow!
I usually arrive in Vélez fairly early in the morning – around 7.45am. One of my usual haunts at this time is the Cafe Niza (C/ Canalejas, 44) in the centre of town, the breakfasts here are wonderful! Tostada con tomate y aceite (toast lightly drizzled with olive oil, spread with sieved fresh tomatoes and a dash of salt!) are a simple but delightful treat here.
Fiesta de San Antón – El fin
January 16, 2011 By
The Fiesta de San Antón 2011 is coming to an end. The occasion being marked by the return of the statue to his rightful place until the next year.
However, the occasion was also marked with a lovely fireworks display. I just managed to capture some of it on my weak camera, had I taken it from the third floor it would have less junk inbetween – nevermind!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7oGhKO7Z77M
Rocio Cortés, Fiesta de San Antón, Sedella
January 16, 2011 By
Fiesta de San Anton, Sedella
January 9, 2011 By
January 15th marks the arrival of my first ever fully fledged fiesta here in the pleasant rural village of Sedella. If Christmas and New Year is anything to go by I am expecting it to be truly wonderful!
As we live on the village square, next door to the church, we will be right on top of the major festivities. The plaza will be host to a multitude of animals whose owners are bringing them for blessing (San Anton being the patron saint of animals), and there will be a bar. There will also be a band playing until the early hours (6am I understand!)
Heaven on a mountain
December 23, 2010 By
A few days ago my Mum named Sedella “heaven on a mountain” and with very good reason. It truly is one of the most wonderful places.
People speak of its beauty in summer and magnificant as it is, I do not believe it is anywhere near as captivating as Sedella in winter. Sure, it gets pretty cold, wet and windy. The temperature difference between the coastline (only 30 minutes away by car) can be as much as 10 degrees. But in winter, especially after heavy rains, the surrounding mountainous countryside takes on a whole new level of beauty – dry river beds suddenly become raging torrents as the water comes down from the higher peaks, and waterfalls and streams erupt everywhere.
It is, quite literally, breath taking.
I ventured out into the cold and wet today in order to bring you some of these images but sadly I had neglected to take along my camera! I will however report back as soon as I manage to muster up the courage to step outside the door once more! Brrr!
Update 19:14
Heaven on a mountain has now become a whirling vortex of extremely strong winds. They are howling around our little house and we have been plummeted into darkness several times in the last hour. The very fabric of the building seems to be shaking! Its both awesome and nerve racking in equal measure. The first time the electric went off we had to do a mad dash around the house in search of candles. It is only when plummeted into pitch black do you realise just how many obstacles there are in your path – I am expecting many calf/ankle high bruises in the morning. We found one candle warranting me to dash the ten steps out of the door to our little local store (of the open all hours except siesta but including sunday and bank holidays variety – a godsend!). She laughed when I marched into her own candle lit interior and went straight for candles. But, with so many treasures on hand, I also found myself leaving with a bottle of the locally produced wine – €3.80 and sold in an old plastic water bottle. It is divine!
Manuel Alcántara in Torre del Mar
December 21, 2010 By
Spent part of the day at the nearby coastal resort of Torre del Mar. It was exceptionally wet and closed!
On the seafront I found this poem by Manuel Alcántara, who was a poet, writer and journalist born in Málaga in 1928. I thought its placement here was a wonderful tribute to him.
I like to immerse myself in the writing of Spain. It is a good way to undestanding both the language and the people!
Se me perdió la esperanza
y aquí la vine a buscar.
Por mi tierra y por mi agua.Que ya se está haciendo tarde
y si no la encuentro en Málaga
no estará en ninguna parte.Mi pobre tierra no puede
darme lo que estoy buscando.
Nadie da lo que no tiene.Tampoco puede engañarme:
la conozco desde siempre
y la quiero desde antes.Yo no culpo a Andalucía,
sé muy bien que a su esperanza
le pasó lo que a la mía.
Manuel Alcántara
I could provide a translation for you. But I´m afraid it wont do his beautiful work any justice at all.
As you can see it was pretty wet down there! The journey down the mountain was equally interesting with the new streams, waterfalls and small landfalls which have taken place since heavy rains hit the area. We are venturing out again tomorrow hopefully so I can venture up and photograph the waterfalls before they dry up never to be seen again (well, not until next winter!)
Artists supplies in Spain
December 14, 2010 By
I do not, by any stretch of the imagination, consider myself an artist. But I do like to sketch and dabble a little in charcoal (most of which ends up on me rather than the paper).
But I am having real difficulty finding good quality sketchpads in Spain. If anyone has any recommendations of where I can purchase said product please speak up now!